August 17, 2011

Masses of martins have begun returning to the trees by Nebraska Medical Center just south of 44th and Farnum Streets in Omaha. This happens every year. Each evening, the martins begin returning to these trees about half an hour before sunset, and numbers increase for about an hour as the birds settle into their roosting spots for the night. It is a spectacular sight, with tens of thousands of purple martins returning to the area each night through August and often into September – until all the birds have migrated. If you have the chance, stop in to watch it some evening.